Charles John Huffman Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Landport, a suburb in Portsmouth.
When Charles was twelve years of age, his father was imprisoned for debt; Charles was forced to procure a job at Warren's Blacking Factory. After Charles' father, John, was released form prison, his mother insisted that he continued to work at the factory, but Charles was very opposed to this suggestions; thankfully, his father rescued him, by sending him to school. Charles Dickens would later portray his hatred of the factory with themes expressed in David Copperfield and Great Expectations (themes of alienation, the working class, etc.)
Charles worked as a free-lance reporter at Doctor's Common Courts, a reporter of Parliamentary debates in the House of Commons, and a reporter for a newspaper.
Charles adopted the pseudonym (pen-name) "Boz" as he wrote for the newspaper. This is where Charles began practicing his writing style and publishing stories.
Dickens is famous for allusions, satire, doubles, foils, dopplegangers, numerous symbols, bold themes, realistic dialogue, wonderful diction and syntax, and a unique style of contrasting heroic characters with terrible social truths.
Dickens used his works not only to entertain, but to influence change. For example, Dickens writes in A Tale of Two Cities after describing the terrible condition of France in 1775, "In England, there was scarcely an amount of order and protection to justify much national boasting." This statement serves as a warning for the citizens of England that if they continue down their current path, they could possibly end up in a situation like that of France that Dickens will describe more deeply in the book.
Charles' parents were constantly wanting money from him as he became successful.
Charles Dickens died in Kent, England on June 9, 1870
A few of Dickens' most famous works: Great Expectations A Tale of Two Cities The Adventures of Oliver Twist David Copperfield Bleak House The Christmas Books including A Christmas Carol Hard Times
Quick Facts:
A few of Dickens' most famous works:
Great Expectations
A Tale of Two Cities
The Adventures of Oliver Twist
David Copperfield
Bleak House
The Christmas Books including A Christmas Carol
Hard Times
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